A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews ^_^

Since English is not my first language, if you have any ideas or see any mistakes, please poke. I'll really appreciate it.

Looking for one particular paratrooper in the marshaling area for the largest airborne drop of the war is actually a stupid thing to do. Between making a beeline between Paratroopers from nine companies, ignoring catcalls and avoiding occasional groping, that followed by me throwing punches here and there, I can't help to think why the hell is walking past strangers can be so stressful. And my jump suits and gears are not helping my maneuver either. So when finally I see Easy, my steps broke into a run.

"Bull, do you see George?"

"Well…I saw him and Joe bickering about whether they should bring Titters or not. 'bout 10 minutes ago. Over there. That was the stupidest argument I've ever heard." It's amazing how his cigar is never fall from his mouth while he's talking.

I hold the urge to slap my head to my hand. Those two always fight about everything.

"Thanks Bull. By the way…be careful…El Bastard comes to town."

"Huh?"

"Sobel…on my six…bye Bull…Be safe!"

"You too, Becca. Thanks for the warning." And he continues to help the replacements about how to jump properly. He is one of few Toccoa men that treat the replacements nicely.

Finally…I see George and Joe…wrestling. I exhale. This is the tenth time I see them in that circumstances. It's amazing though to think that they can do that in their jump gear.

"Joseph D. Liebgott Jr.! Do not disembowel our radio man using a rusty bayonet! It's not hygienic. Here, use my fountain pen."

"Princess! How could you?!"

I sigh "How many times I told you not to provoke him, George?"

Sometimes I feel being Easy Company honorary member equal to become a babysitter for one big dysfunctional family.

Joe lets George go but still swearing in all the colors of the rainbow.

"I was just kidding, Becca! It's not my fault if Joe's mood is like a bitch in her period."

"Fucking kill you!"

"Jesus! Calm your tits, Joe!"

"STOP IT YOU GUYS! We're in the middle of an airfield for God's sake. And Sobel's here!"

"You've got to be shitting me, Becca."

"No I'm not, Joe… Not yet anyway."

George laughs but one look from Joe and I make him shut his mouth.

I huff "Can't you guys serious for just one second?!"

"Becca, this is how we bonding. You're not really wanna kill me, don't ya Joe?"

"Ah, you know, I'm always fumbling with grenades…so…."

"I thought you guys are the best damn Company in the ETO, not a fourth grader. Behave yourself. Malarkey already got reprimanded by Sobel. Something about…a borrowed motorcycle?"

George laughs "Ha! Borrowed my ass. Alton and him smuggled that motorcycle from France. Winters and Nixon know about that, ya know. They accidentally on purpose looked away when Malarkey brought that motor to the ship. But maybe that's because Winters and Nixon smuggled live ammo to England too. I like them."

"Captain Winters and Captain Nixon are competent, all right. And you guys are lucky your platoon got Buck. David's platoon got Lieutenant Peacock to replace Welsh. Fresh from the OCS. And I think he's color blind. I heard he order Martin to tap him when the green light comes on."

Joe and George shout "The fuck?!"

George shakes his head "How he reads the maps then? And how the hell he passed the OCS?! Is the Army that desperate for replacement? Shit! We'll get lost if that retard on lead."

I can only shrug "George, our regiment alone suffers 50% casualties for the Normandy Campaign. So you do the math. Nevertheless, Peacock is still an officer, George. You can't treat him like you and Frank treat your replacement babies."

George sighs "Becca…losing friends is hard enough. But seeing some wide-eyed, wet-behind-their-ears boys replacing their place, is much worse. And now…half of Easy Company are replacements. They come directly from hurry-up trainings; I can see their sorry asses are still steaming. . Those constantly excited, tense, eager, and nervous babies will lead us to unnecessary death, for fuck's sake! So please do forgive us if my midget friend and I treated them like a doormat. This way, it'll be easier to forget them if they dead. No attachment."

I never thought about that. It must be hard for Toccoa men seeing some teenagers or green officers at their side, replacing their dead friends. So this is what George's means by "replaceable pawn in this godforsaken war".

Joe taps George shoulder and says "Okay…enough with the serious talk… What can we do for you Becca?"

"Since when you become so polite with Becca?"

"Shut up, George!" That's me and Joe talking. And we grin at each other when we see George's scandalized face. I'm gonna miss those puppy eyes.

"Just wanna say good luck to my Frog, Joe. Is it okay?"

"Shouldn't be the Frog looking for the Princess?" Joe says incredulously.

"I guess it's a feminist thing. Right, Becca?" George says that with dismay. I try to ignore that. He's a gentleman at heart, so I'm sure he's a little bit insulted when a woman come looking to him, not the other way around.

"That. And I don't want the Colonel pestering me about why a Paratrooper looking for his goddaughter. So I decided to come here."

Thankfully, Joe saves me from George's rant about what's a proper thing for a man to do.

"Hey George…don't you want to give something to Becca?"

"Right…Joe…can you…" And George gives him a shoo-ing gesture. Joe grins and winks knowingly.

"All right …I need to pee anyway. See ya, Becca."

"Bye Joe…Take care of those bladder! So…Frog…what is this thing you want to give me?"

"Let's find some place with more privacy…" And George walks in front of me towards a supply tent and then holds the flap so I can come in.

Once inside, George pulls out a small box from his backpack and gives it to me. It's a carved and turned boxwood chess set. The slide top has a paper label with 'K & C Ltd (London)' written on it. The carving is simple, but I can say it's a fine handicraft. And how does he know I love chess? He must be asked David about me. I hope he can't hear my heart beating on my ribs or see my cheek blushing, because it will be embarrassing.

"George…this is beautiful. How..?"

He smiles "Put your faith in my scrounging ability, Princess. My rivals are only Frank and Captain Nixon."

"Scrounging? Or more like stealing?" I tease him. But I can't stop my lips from smiling.

He grins "Semantics. But no...really…I trade it with some Limey officer. I gave him two Lugers, and he gave me that. It's a win-win solution. I hope we can play it sometimes. I'm not a very good player but I will give you some fight."

That…was...endearing. And I can't hold my tears anymore. So much for a feminist who promised herself that she will be as tough as nail. But this is the best gift I've ever had.

"George…"

He panics at my tears and rummages his backpack again "Becca…oh please no no no…don't cry…shit…I don't have handkerchief…why? You don't like it?"

I grab his wrist to stop him "No…George…I love it."

He looks at me with surprise. This is the first time we're holding hands. The last thing I know, he hugs me. And my brain suffers from a temporary shutdown.

When finally I can connect my brain with my mouth again, I whisper in his chest "Promise me you will be safe. Promise me you'll play chess with me…okay?"

"Becca, we can't make promises in combat."

He releases his hug but his hands still holding my hands. He then puts his forehead into mine. "But I do promise you, I'll do my best to come back to you. Will you do the same for me?"

"I will."

I barely see his charming smile before he kisses me in my forehead. And he hurriedly walks out the tent, leaves me realized that I'm officially hooked with his smile.